Richard Wells Research Centre

The Richard Wells Research Centre was established in 1995.  Its current remit is to carryout research and educational initiatives within the field of infectious diseases in general and healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) in particular.  The Centre is also a Joanna Briggs Institute Collaborating Centre and is collaborting with CIPM in work-stream one looking at Behaviour Change and Social Marketing.

Our main collabortor is Heather Loveday who brings extensive experience in systematic reviews

Heather Loveday RN RNT PGDARM DN(Lond) MA Principal Lecturer - Research

Heather Loveday is Principal Lecturer Research in the Richard Wells Research Centre and the Deputy Director of the Healthcare Associated Infection Research Network which is funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme.  She is a Registered Nurse and Nurse Teacher and completed masters studies in the philosophy of health care at University College, Swansea (University of Wales) in 1990.  Heather joined the Richard Wells Research Centre as Principal Lecturer (Research) in 1995. Between 1998 and 2007 she has been closely involved in the Department of Health funded epic project for the Development of Evidence Based Guidelines for the Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infection and NICE Guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infection in the community and primary care and more recently has conducted a number of systematic reviews and evaluations to support policy and guideline development.   Heather is particularly interested in influencing and developing practice in infection prevention and control through research, innovation and improvement science. 

 She is currently leading an independent evaluation of the Department of Health Clean Safe Care Programme.  Heather is an active member of the Infection Prevention Society as the Chair of the Research and Development Committee and Deputy Editor of the Journal of Infection Prevention.  In addition to her research interests, Heather's principal fields of expertise include biomedical ethics, teaching research methods and clinical leadership. She is the Chair of the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee.

Heather Loveday
Email: Heather.Loveday@tvu.ac.uk